Pakistan has been listed among the ‘Top-20 improvers in Doing Business for the year 2020’ by World Bank. A statement by the World Bank said, “Pakistan improved in six areas measured by Doing Business—starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, paying taxes and trading across borders—reflecting the country’s development of an ambitious reform strategy.”
“Whether the world stands with Kashmiris or not, Pakistan is standing by them,” said Prime Minister Imran Khan upon his return to Pakistan from the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The PM spoke to a large number of party workers and supporters who had gathered at the capital’s airport to welcome the premier.
Groundbreaking One-day International series to return to Pakistan, as Karachi prepares to host Sri Lanka in the first of three matches at the National Stadium. With nine of top regular stars skipping the tour for security reasons and prodigiously talented young right-handed batsman Kusal Mendis sidelined through injury, Sri Lanka have named experienced left-handed opening batsman Lahiru Thirimanne as ODI captain.
US President Donald Trump told a news conference after attending the United Nations General Assembly, that he has encouraged Pakistan and India to ‘work it out’. “I said, ‘Fellas, work it out. Just work it out’,” he said. Trump encouraged the neighbouring nuclear states to work out their differences in separate meetings with their prime ministers this week.
At least 37 people are now confirmed dead in the devastating earthquake that rocked Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Mirpur a day earlier as aftershocks continue in the region. The 5.6-magnitude earthquake – which also shook several cities of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) – injured 459 people of which the condition of 160 is reportedly critical, confirmed Mirpur’s district administration. Pakistan Army has started relief work in the area.
Pakistan has made it clear that there was no move under way to recognise Israel. The remarks by Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal came in response to a question about whether Pakistan was planning to recognise Israel, as speculations arose after a detailed article published in an Israeli paper is doing the rounds on social media.
The red letter considered to be a final warning and expression of displeasure was issued to 27 ministries by the Prime Minister Office (PMO). The PMO asked concerned ministries/divisions to complete tasks they were assigned by September 9 and to submit a compliance report on the matter. Initially, a ‘yellow letter’ was issued to the ministries on August 17 as a warning.
In order to avoid a severe crisis vis-à-vis availability of life-saving drugs in the local market, the government has lifted the ban on import of medicines and raw material from India. Ban on other trade items will remain. The exemption is given in the best interest of the public and in order to maintain supply of medicines to patients.
Karachi has been named among the 10 least liveable cities in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) — the research and analysis division of the Economist Group — in The Global Liveability Index 2019. This year, Karachi has been ranked 136th on the list — the fifth least liveable city in the world — only managing to fare better than Damascus, Lagos, Dhaka and Tripoli.
A new Whatsapp scam in Pakistan has the users scratching their heads. Users have been receiving fake calls from individuals who claim to be PTA officials and ask for verification codes that have been sent to the users’ numbers. By using these codes, these impostors gain access to Whatsapp accounts of users and use them to their advantage.